Jessica Learmonth signed off the World Triathlon Series with a bronze medal in Rotterdam and the champagne-soaked British star spoke exclusively to The Sportsman in the wake of a race that saw Flora Duffy crowned world champion for a second successive year...
Duffy Crowned World Champion
Duffy was at her dominant best as she picked up a sixth win of a stunning season that has seen her successfully defend her title as world champion and it was clear early on that the Bermudan wasn't going to be stopped in the Netherlands. She sensibly kept on the toes of Learmonth throughout the swim as the Brit again led the field into Transition One and Learmonth, along with Duffy and Katie Zaferes, quickly opened up a 32-second lead on the bike, a lead they wouldn't relinquish
Duffy, who only needed to finish seventh in Rotterdam to be guaranteed to be world champion again, kicked into over-drive during the run and she romped away to secure a sixth win of the WTS season - only Gwen Jorgenson has ever won more (seven during her 2015 title-winning campaign) - and the 2018 season is already shaping up to be an absolute classic with Jorgenson, Non Stanford, Jodie Stimpson and Vicky Holland likely to come back stronger after missing various parts of 2017.
Learmonth On The Podium Again
A podium finish for Learmonth comes just a few weeks after her career-best WTS effort of second in Stockholm and result in the Netherlands came as something of a surprise to the 29-year-old, if not to those who have watched her consistently produce the goods this season.
To be on the podium again is just ridiculous" - Jess Learmonth
"I can't say I enjoyed loads of it because I didn't feel amazing coming into the race and I hadn't trained since last Saturday," Learmonth told The Sportsman. "Once I got onto the run I was happy to just get round."
Learmonth can now enjoy a well-earned rest before looking ahead to 2018 and the challenge of trying to topple Duffy.
"I need to work on that really because she got away from me pretty quickly on the run," admitted Learmonth. "She's so impressive and so consistent."
Stimpson Coming Back Stronger
Jodie Stimpson also took positives away from Rotterdam as she bids to move on from a tough year with injury and the Brit swam strongly en route to an impressive ninth place finish.
"It was a fantastic course," Stimpson told The Sportsman. "We were going into the race with the focus of getting Jess a medal and she was fantastic again, as she has been all year."
The big challenge for Stimpson is to rediscover fitness ahead of the potential defence of her Commonwealth Games title in 2018.
"I'll say I'm healthy and not fit at the moment but one really big positive that I can take out of this race today is that I had a really good swim again," said Stimpson. "The challenge for the winter is to bring my running on and keep my swimming at a high level."
There is plenty to look forward to for the British women's elite athletes during what promises to be a superb year of triathlon in 2018.
